I

In March, the 125-member NJEA PAC Operating Committee voted unanimously to endorse Sen. Bar-bara Buono for governor. The PAC Operating Committee is composed of members from every county as well as representatives from retired members and higher education constituencies.

The day after receiving the formal endorsement, Buono at-tended the NJEA Delegate Assem-bly meeting to thank personally NJEA and its members for the early endorsement of her candida-cy for governor.

Buono said the endorsement was important to her on a “very personal level.” She said that it represented a validation of the role education has played in her life. She shared her own story explaining her modest background and how she eventually put herself through Montclair State College and Rutgers Law School, despite her low income.

“The point of my story is that I had opportunities back then,” Buono explained. “Those oppor-tunities simply aren’t there now, and that is why I’m running for governor of the state of New Jer-sey.”

NJEA endorses Buono for governor

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1

Fall 2013

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NJEA Endorses Buono…….1

NEA-RA Convention.…..….2

Fall Meeting Info…...….....2

Luncheon coupon……........3

Financial Workshop.....…..4

New Retirees...…........Insert

Save These Dates

The ACREA will hold its

business meetings and

luncheons on

these Tuesdays:

October 1, 2013

December 3, 2013

May 13, 2014

Information regarding

locations will be on

Atlanticrea.

wordpress.com

NJREA Convention

Trump Taj Mahal

Atlantic City

Nov. 6 and 7

Both candidates screened

Both Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Buono participated in the screening process in a bid to earn NJEA’s endorsement. The candi-dates each had a one hour inter-view with a screening committee, giving the NJEA PAC Operating Committee an unfiltered view of both Christie’s and Buono’s pri-orities.

“We genuinely appreciated Gov. Christie’s willingness to participate in a candid and thoughtful conversation with our screening committee,” said NJEA

President Barbara Keshishian. It was one of the very few times in three years that the governor interacted in person with NJEA.

Issues that matter to New Jersey

NJEA/NJREA members, like all New Jersey residents, have a lot at stake in this election. The next governor will make critical deci-sions about education policy and school funding that will determine the future of our public schools. The next governor will also have to contend with the important issues facing New Jersey’s middle and working class residents. Here are ten reasons why Sen. Barbara Buo-no is the right candidate for the job: 1. Fought in the Senate against

Gov. Christie’s cuts to school funding.

2. Committed to lowering the cost of health insurance and expanding coverage to more New Jersey families.

3. Fought to lower property taxes by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.

4. Supports making higher edu-cation funding a priority.

5. Supports increasing the mini-mum wage and making sure it keeps up with inflation.

6. Strong defender of collective bargaining rights for school employees, police officers and firefighters.

7. Believes school employees—past and present—should be supported, not attacked.

8. Committed to making New Jersey a leader in green ener-gy production and use.

9. Determined to restore fund-ing for women’s health and family planning.

10. Supports tough, smart gun-safety laws to reduce gun violence and protect our chil-dren.

It’s not too late to join Garden State Forward

On issue after issue, Sen. Buono is right in line with the values and pri-orities of NJEA/NJREA members and, with our support, she will win in November.

NJREA urges its members to join the campaign to get New Jersey mov-ing forward again. For more information, visit Garden State Forward at www.gardenstateforward.com. By visiting this website, you can pledge to vote for Barbara Buono and make a difference for yourself, your fami-ly, and New Jersey’s future.

Barbara Buono

In Memoriam

We remember and pray

for our friends and

colleagues:

Elsa Garfield

Susan Farrell

Floretta Sutton-Logan

Atlantic County was well represented at the NEA-R & RA conventions June 27-July 6

by Pat Provnick, NJREA 1st vice president, Karen Clark, ACREA membership chair,

and Roger Baker, ACREA president.

Retirees debate national education issues

The National Education Association Rep-

resentative Assembly (NEA-RA) in Atlan-

ta, GA was very busy. We read, debated

and voted on 4 Constitutional Amend-

ments, 3 By-Law Amendments, 9 Stand-

ing Rules, 17 Legislative Amendments, 9

Resolutions Amendments, and 95 New

Business items. A typical day at the RA

began at 7 AM and ended when all of the

items on that day’s agenda were complet-

ed, usually around 6 PM. In the evening,

if you are not too tired from the day, you

have free time to enjoy the local night life.

Nationally, teachers are all concerned

about many of the same issues: Core Cur-

riculum Content Standards, the political

climate in their respective states, the loss

of bargaining rights, tying teacher evalua-

tions to student test scores, Gay, Lesbian,

Bisexual and Transgender Rights, Special

Education legislation and the de-

emphasizing of the Arts and Physical Edu-

cation as important school curriculum. In

addition, several new business items dealt

with cost cutting measures that would

help to keep NEA costs down, thus also

keeping dues from increasing.

keeping dues from increasing.

Interspersed with the issues, we were

privileged to hear the keynote speech

from Dennis Van Roekel, NEA presi-

dent, and speeches from the National

Teacher of the Year, Jeff Charbonneau,

as well as the National ESP of the Year,

Donna Schulze. Of course, there are

reports to hear, campaign speeches from

those seeking offices, and our annual

July 4th celebration. Approximately 600

retirees and actives from New Jersey did

take some time to support the various

non-profit caucuses by visiting booths

where various items are sold to raise

funds for education initiatives.

If you would like to see the full ac-

counting of the work we accomplished

during the NEA-RA, a copy of the RA

Today newspaper which shows you all of

the items voted on, what the outcomes

were and includes excerpts of the key-

note speeches will be available for you to

peruse at the sign-in table at our Octo-

ber meeting.

Karen Clark

Fall meeting set for

Oct.1 at Greate Bay The gubernatorial, US senate, and NJ leg-

islative elections and their impact on pub-

lic employees will be the main focus of the

fall business meeting of the ACREA. Beth

Buonsante, NJEA associate director in

government relations, will give us an up-

date on issues to consider prior to voting

on Tuesday, November 5.

In addition, Gene Sharp, a former At-

lantic County Uniserv field representative,

will discuss the Heathcare Assistance or-

ganization, a service which provides assis-

tance and often job protection to individu-

als with substance abuse or other behav-

ioral problems.

“Whether we want to omit it or not,

we all know a friend, family member, or

neighbor, struggling with personal prob-

lems, who may benefit from HCAM’s

assistance,” said Roger Baker.

The agenda will also include the instal-

lation of Gene McCann as vice-president,

and Roberta “Bobbie” Gorman as record-

ing secretary. Most importantly, new re-

tirees will be recognized and welcomed

into the ACREA.

The 11 AM business meeting will be

followed by lunch. Use the coupon on

page 3 to make your reservation.

Business Meeting and Luncheon Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Greate Bay Country Club Somers Point, NJ

Business Meeting: 11AM

Keynote speaker : Beth Buonsante, NJEA Associate Director of

Government Relations

Gene Sharp, former NJEA UniServ field rep

Luncheon Served at 1PM

Luncheon Choices: Herb-Crusted North Atlantic Salmon

or Chicken Picatta in White Wine and Lemon Butter Sauce

Oven Roasted Potatoes, Baby Carrots & Green Beans, Tea, Coffee, Iced Tea

Apple Cobbler & Vanilla Ice Cream

Cost: $25 per person, includes gratuity

Reservations: Your response must be received by Friday, September 20, 2013.

Please make your check payable to ACREA and send to:

Pat Royal, 2310 Shepherd Dr., Northfield, NJ 08225 Phone: 609-646-4071

Name ___________________________________________________________________Phone _________________________________________________

Name of Guest ________________________________________________________Your E-mail_____________________________________________

Member’s Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*_______ Check if you are a new retiree!

Luncheon Choice: __________ Atlantic Salmon __________ Chicken Picatta

Linda Young

706 Blenheim Ave.

Absecon, NJ 08201

Proud member:

Atlantic County Retired Educators Association

ACREA Officers, Chairs

2013-2014

Roger Baker – President

Gene McCann– Vice President

Bobbie Gorman Recording Secretary

Bob Kickish – Treasurer

Linda Young Corresponding Secretary

Karen Clark – Membership Chair

Natalie Fisher , Linda Wallace Government Relations

Joanne Peek Newsletter, Membership

Carol Romano - Publicity

Susan Camp - Member Benefits

Patricia Beebe - Constitution

Dennis Yob - Webmaster

Jim Goldsmith - Audit, Budget

Jerry Hoenes - Parliamentarian

Pat Royal - Events

Roberta Woessner — Elections

Judy Perkins - Past President

Contact us: : Atlanticrea@yahoo.com

Visit us: Atlanticrea.wordpress.com

Security Benefit, NEA sponsored financial planners, will hold a workshop for

ACREA members. The workshop is designed for retirees interested in learn-

ing how to manage 403b assets. The workshop will address:

Options for using 403b funds in retirement.

How not to outlive your funds.

Tax implications for you and your family.

The workshop is scheduled for:

Wednesday, October. 16

Location: ACCEA Office, 842 Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City

Time: 12 Noon - 2 PM

Contact: Peri Pantazes@609-226-9733 or peri.pantazes@gmail.com OR

Sign-up at our fall luncheon on October 1.

Registration is required and is limited to 50 people on a first come basis.

Light refreshments will be served. A $5 dollar donation will be collected at

the door for the ACCEA scholarship fund.

Financial 403b workshop planned this fall

Absecon

Carol Phillips

Atlantic-Cape Com. College

Gerri Black

Myra Caplan

Thomas Celandine

Thomas Clark

Rosemarie Conaghy

Ronnie Devine

Nicholas Donato

Frank Eastlack

Angel Equaras

Nicholas Ganaway

Ann McClaskey

Gail Mischlich

John Mohr

Nicasio Rabino

Regina Skinner

Jo-Ann Volpe

Atlantic City

Karen Bailey

Eileen Belson

Raina Clark

Donna Clinton

Bryan Feinberg

Edmond Grimes

Pamela Johnston

Barbara Kichline

Afton Koontz

Marianne MacDonald

John Mazzocca

William Moffitt

Gloria Jean Pettiford

Maxine Poindexter

Michael Ramsey

Daryl Robinson

Thomas Spencer

Gloria Sutton

Gladys Torres

Rosalia Valenti

William Zoda

Atlantic County IT

Rich Moder

Atlantic County SS

Barbara Allen

Diane Coughlin

Carol Curcione

Carol Goldinher

Ralph Jiannotti

Andrew Klain

Derek Nye

C. Aileen Privitera

Bonnie Steiner

Christine Weiss

Diane Woods

Brigantine

Nathan Goldinher

Buena

James Commander

Maryann Conkright

George Maxwell

Cheryl Mitchell

Deborah Maull

Dominic Panico

Judith Sacco

Jane Walsh

Wesley Myers

Egg Harbor City

Winifred Blankenship

Ina Duran

Egg Harbor Twp

Juan Ayala

Larry Camp

Kathleen Carlucci

Alisa Cooper

Gwendolyn Elliot-Simmons

Linda Gisondi

Gary Hafemeister

William Hooven

Ronald Kashon

Carolyn Ogelsby

Stephen Pappas

William Sauerwald

Marie Scully

Marilyn Sussman

Paula Sykes

Donna Torres-Munyon

Diana Travis

Elaine Witkoskie

Estelle Manor

Elissa Campanella

Maureen Corbett

Folsom

Anita Hoffman

Lee Ruggiero

141 New 2013 Retirees

Nathan Goldinher (right) taught math

for 43 years in Brigantine and is con-

gratulated by Roger Baker, ACREA pres-

ident.

The Atlantic County Council of Education

Associations held their annual Retirement

Brunch on Sunday, June 2, at Greate Bay

Country Club. Wendell Steinhauer, NJEA

vice-president, thanked the teachers and

support staff for their service to their stu-

dents and local communities and wished

them happiness and good health.

Galloway

Cynthia Ambrose

Carol Argenti

Carol Banks

Joy Booye

Rebecca Byrne

David Evans

Susan Ferguson

Julie Fields

Kimberly Gollub

Theodore House

Priscilla Muller

Barbara Murphy

Judith Pine

Janet Siano

Greater Egg Harbor Re-

gional

Ed Ablett

Sandra Baird

Charles Bass

MaryLou Bouchard

Linda Gronlund

EJ Johnson

Virgina Kimpton

Denise Price

Arlene Roller

Paul Seyler and Ned Toal

Hamilton Township

Carol Bennett

Louise Dalbora

Kathleen Magee

Maureen Maxwell

Lisa McLeod

Rosalie Petrunis

Rosemarie Rhine

Lee Ann Ryder

Linwood

Michele Yakopcic

Mainland

Robert Martin

Gaye Pessolano

John Rakowski

Mullica

Beverly A. Coperthwaite

Rosemary Cowley

Sara Goldberg

Regina G. Strawn

Northfield

Genevieve Duran

Sharon McDermott

Virginia Smallwood

Pleasantville

Barbara Chadwick

Susan Chiginsky

Annie Fraser

Dianna Hughes

Deborah Lamb

Naamah Leary

John Lilly

Annamaria Milhous

Ventnor

Frank Cerullo

Denise Madonna

Grace Ricciotti

Weymouth

Lois DeLeeuw

Barbara Kenny

More 2013 Retirees

Steve Bouchard congratulates his

wife Mary Lou on her retirement.

Helen Turner, Atlantic

County’s oldest retiree

Helen Turner celebrated her 106th

birthday with friend and former Mar-

gate teaching colleague Betty Shearer.

On April 1, Helen Turner reflected on her birthday and 38-years of teaching in the Margate district.

“My first annual salary was $1000,

but when I retired from Margate in

1972, I was earning about $13,000,”

said Turner. “It was a terrific job —

great staff and students!’

Indeed, Turner left a lasting im-

pression. When one of her former

students read in a local newspaper

about her birthday celebration, he

did what is expected: he “crashed

her party” and offered his favorite

elementary school teacher a big, red

apple!